Removable camera lens cover

Abstract

A camera is configured for use with a removable camera lens cover, which can be secured to or removed from the camera by a user without the use of a tool set. The mechanism which allows the lens cover to be secured to and removed from the camera includes a set of wires embedded into the lens cover and a set of wedges protruding from the lens wall of the camera. To secure the lens cover to the camera, the lens cover is placed onto the front of the camera and rotated until the wires align with corresponding wedges, securing the wires underneath the tapered surface of the wedges. To remove the lens cover from the camera, a force is applied outward and normal to the lens cover, causing the wires to flex outward and enabling the rotation and removal of the lens cover from the camera.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A removable lens cover configured for removable connection to a camera, the removable lens cover comprising:
 a pair of recesses configured to receive a pair of wedges protruding from a front end of the camera such that the pair of wedges are insertable into and removable from the pair of recesses during connection of the removable lens cover to the camera and removal of the removable lens cover from the camera; 
 a pair of securing structures offset from the pair of recesses by 90 degrees and configured for positioning beneath the pair of wedges, the removable lens cover rotatable in relation to the camera between an unlocked configuration, in which the pair of wedges are located within the pair of recesses and the removable lens cover is removable from the camera, and a locked configuration, in which the pair of wedges are positioned beneath the pair of securing structures to secure the removable lens cover to the camera; and 
 a lens hole configured in correspondence with a lens of the camera such that light passes through the removable lens cover and enters the lens of the camera, whereby the light is directed onto an image sensor located within the camera and configured to capture the light and convert the light into image data. 
 
     
     
       2. The removable lens cover of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of recesses each include an arcuate configuration. 
     
     
       3. The removable lens cover of  claim 1 , wherein the pair of recesses and the pair of securing structures are arranged in an alternating manner such that the pair of recesses are located between the pair of securing structures. 
     
     
       4. The removable lens cover of  claim 1 , wherein the removable lens cover defines an outer wall, the pair of securing structures surrounded by the outer wall. 
     
     
       5. The removable lens cover of  claim 4 , wherein the pair of securing structures are spaced radially inward from the outer wall. 
     
     
       6. The removable lens cover of  claim 4 , wherein the outer wall includes:
 a pair of side walls each having a planar configuration; and 
 a pair of end walls each having a planar configuration and extending between the pair of side walls. 
 
     
     
       7. The removable lens cover of  claim 6 , wherein the outer wall further includes rounded comer portions extending between the pair of side walls and the pair of end walls. 
     
     
       8. The removable lens cover of  claim 7 , wherein the removable lens cover further includes:
 apertures located within the rounded comer portions; and 
 mechanical fasteners configured for insertion into the apertures such that the mechanical fasteners extend into the outer wall. 
 
     
     
       9. The removable lens cover of  claim 8 , wherein the removable lens cover includes:
 a first fastener received by a first aperture located within a first rounded comer portion of the outer wall; 
 a second fastener received by a second aperture located within a second rounded comer portion of the outer wall; 
 a third fastener received by a third aperture located within a third rounded comer portion of the outer wall; and 
 a fourth fastener received by a fourth aperture located within a fourth rounded comer portion of the outer wall. 
 
     
     
       10. The removable lens cover of  claim 9 , wherein the pair of securing structures includes:
 a first securing structure extending between the first rounded comer portion of the outer wall and the second rounded comer portion of the outer wall; and 
 a second securing structure extending between the third rounded comer portion of the outer wall and the fourth rounded comer portion of the outer wall. 
 
     
     
       11. A removable lens cover configured for removable connection to a camera defining an optical axis, the removable lens cover comprising:
 a first recess configured to receive a first wedge protruding from a front end of the camera such that the first wedge is insertable into and removable from the first recess during connection of the removable lens cover to the camera and disconnection of the removable lens cover from the camera, wherein the first recesses is defined by discrete first and second end walls extending from the removable lens cover along the optical axis; 
 a first securing structure spaced 90 degrees from the first recess and configured for positioning beneath the first wedge during rotation of the removable lens cover in relation to the camera from an unlocked configuration, in which the first wedge is located within the first recess and the removable lens cover is removable from the camera, and a locked configuration, in which the first wedge is positioned beneath the first securing structure to secure the removable lens cover to the camera; 
 a second recess spaced 90 degrees from the first securing structure and configured to receive a second wedge protruding from the front end of the camera such that the second wedge is insertable into and removable from the second recess during connection of the removable lens cover to the camera and disconnection of the removable lens cover from the camera, wherein the second recesses is defined by discrete first and second end walls extending from the removable lens cover along the optical axis; and 
 a second securing structure spaced 90 degrees from the second recess and configured for positioning beneath the second wedge during rotation of the removable lens cover in relation to the camera from the unlocked configuration, in which the second wedge is located within the second recess, and the locked configuration, in which the second wedge is positioned beneath the second securing structure. 
 
     
     
       12. The removable lens cover of  claim 11 , wherein the first recess and the second recess each include an arcuate configuration. 
     
     
       13. The removable lens cover of  claim 11 , wherein the removable lens cover defines:
 a first dimension extending along a first axis parallel in relation to the optical axis of the camera; 
 a second dimension extending along a second axis orthogonal in relation to the first axis; and 
 a third dimension extending along a third axis orthogonal in relation to the first axis and the second axis, wherein the second dimension and the third dimension are greater than the first dimension. 
 
     
     
       14. The removable lens cover of  claim 13 , wherein the first recess and the second recess each extend along the first axis partially into the removable lens cover such that the first recess and the second recess each define a base wall. 
     
     
       15. The removable lens cover of  claim 13 , wherein the discrete first and second end walls of the first recess are respectively aligned with the discrete first and second end walls of the second recess along the third axis. 
     
     
       16. A method of connecting a removable lens cover to a camera, the method comprising:
 inserting a pair of wedges protruding from a front end of the camera into a pair of discrete recesses extending into the removable lens cover; and 
 rotating the removable lens cover from an unlocked configuration, in which the pair of wedges are located within the pair of recesses and the removable lens cover is removable from the camera, into a locked configuration, in which a pair of securing structures located between the pair of recesses engage the pair of wedges to thereby secure the removable lens cover to the camera. 
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein rotating the removable lens cover includes positioning the pair of securing structures beneath the pair of wedges. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , wherein rotating the removable lens cover includes rotating the removable lens cover such that sidewalls of the removable lens cover are oriented in parallel relation to sidewalls of the camera. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16 , wherein rotating the removable lens cover includes rotating the removable lens cover through a range of motion approximately equal to 90 degrees. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 16 , wherein rotating the removable lens cover includes engaging corresponding stops on the removable lens cover and the camera to prevent continued rotation of the removable lens cover when the removable lens cover is in the locked configuration.